Thai team celebrate promotion at Anfield

When the players of Bangkok United finished third in Thailand's First Division last season, they had more than just promotion to the Premier League to celebrate.

As an extra incentive to return to the top flight, the club's owner told the players he would pay for them to visit Anfield should they achieve their ultimate objective.

Last weekend, he proved true to his word as a party of 36 players, coaching staff and executives from the Bangkok club braved the sub-zero conditions around Anfield to see Liverpool record their biggest win of the season against Norwich.

"A lot of the Bangkok United players and coaches support Liverpool, so this trip was a dream come true for them," claimed Duke Bhornlerts, Chairman of the LFC Thailand Supporters' Club, who accompanied the party on the trip from the Thai capital.

"They got to go on an Anfield stadium tour on Friday and on Saturday I took them to The Sandon pub, to show them where the club was formed.

"On Saturday, they watched the game from the Upper Anfield Road end and really enjoyed it. I'd told them a lot about the atmosphere at Anfield before the game so for them to see the team win 5-0 made it a perfect trip.

"The players start pre-season training in March so the purpose of this trip was just as much about inspiring them for next season as it was about rewarding them for what they achieved last season."